The Common Man Speaks

Play review: Dhappa (Hindi)

June 25, 2022 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Writer, director, lyricist and producer Akshay Mishra’s Dhappa is a Hindi musical play based in the 1950s era of Hindi cinema. This description will make you expect the drama to play out in a certain way. However, it has a major surprise later on; something you don’t expect from a play of this genre.

Produced by Aum Theatre Mumbai, Dhappa takes place in 1950s Mumbai (then Bombay). Kumar (Pavitra Sarkar) is passionate about acting but he is unable to make it big in the industry. Worse, his crass and rude behavior has made him infamous in the media, especially the tabloids.

Kumar stays with his elder sister Iravati (Sharon Chandra) in a bungalow. She is a gifted Kathak dancer but has been unable to fulfill her wish of becoming a professional artiste. She is much more mature than Kumar and is his guiding force as well as critic.

Dhappa Hindi play

Meanwhile, the successful foreign-returned novelist Shyam (Puneet Issar) is eager to make his first feature film. Despite being obsessed with the idea of his first film, he doesn’t like watching new Hindi films. He is introduced to Kumar in an unusual way.

Shyam’s idea to make a film gains Kumar’s interest as he feels he will cast him in the lead role. However, Kumar is actually interested in making a film based on Kathak with Iravati. But this doesn’t go well with Kumar. He plainly declines the offer on behalf of Iravati without even asking her. Is it due to jealously, patriarchy or something else?

Dhappa takes you back to the golden right at the onset with Pankhuri Gangwal’s introduction as an anchor.

Pavitra Sarkar and Puneet Issar

The story is laced with a lot of drama and conflict and that is played out well on the stage on a majority of the times. Akshay Mishra’s fine presentation of various situations as a director is noteworthy. The elaborated scenes between Kumar and Shyam are a mixture of drama and humour. Kumar’s conversations with Iravati are more serious and deep.

Dhappa boasts of some rich set designing with minute detailing that brings back the bygone era. The use of lights is creative while the background score adapts to different emotions effortlessly. Ajit Kumar Srivastava, Amit Ranjan Srivastava and Radha Srivastava’s musical performances elevate the play.

Pavitra Sarkar succeeds in adding life to the character of Kumar. Along with arrogance, he also displays an undercurrent of vulnerability, which the people outside are unaware of. Sharon Chandra scores well both in her Kathak performances and while playing Iravati. Anuradha Athlekar provides decent support in a role that has more potential later.

Dhappa Sharon Chandra
Sharon Chandra

The veteran Puneet Issar lives up to his name and gives a mature act, including a long monologue. His character’s comparison with Duryodhan in one scene is amusing and smart.

On the flipside, Dhappa needed to be lesser in duration, especially in the second half where the length is felt. The duration of the song performances could have been reduced in order to make it crisper.

This point, however, won’t hurt you much when the aforementioned twist takes place. The way in which it is presented has the potential of giving you a shock, even if you manage to predict it.

Writer, director, lyricist and producer: Akshay Mishra

Cast: Puneet Issar, Sharon Chandra, Pavitra Sarkar and Anuradha Athlekar

Singers and musicians: Ajit Kumar Srivastava, Amit Ranjan Srivastava and Radha Srivastava

Background score: Amit Sagar

Lights: Shyam Chavan

Also read: Play Review: Subodh Bhave-starrer Ashrunchi Zali Phule

Filed Under: Plays Tagged With: Aum Theatre Mumbai, Dhappa Hindi natak, Dhappa Hindi play, Dhappa play Puneet Issar, Dhappa play review, Dhappa Puneet Issar

Puneet Issar to play a film director in the period musical play Dhappa

May 19, 2022 by Keyur Seta 5 Comments

The last time veteran actor Puneet Issar was seen on stage was in his mythological play Mahabharata: The Epic Tale where he played the iconic character of Duryodhan for which he is known.

He will now be seen in a completely different production titled Dhappa in the role of a foreign-returned filmmaker named Shyam.

Written and directed by Akshay Mishra, the play is produced by him and Sharon Chandra for Aum Theatre Mumbai. Chandra is also one of the actors in the play and she will also be performing an eight-minute kathak dance. She is a trained Kathak dancer from Jaipur Gharana. She is originally from Fiji Islands and has worked in numerous plays.

The play also stars Pavitra Sarkar and Anuradha Athlekar.

Dhappa is based in the film industry of Bombay in the 1950s. Kumar is a struggling actor who could never make it big. He is also infamous in the media for his rude and crass behavior. Even though acting was never his choice, he still tried to keep the flame alive only for his sister Iravati, whose ambition of dance could never be a reality.

Along comes Shyam, a foreign-returned director who is going to film his dream project. Shyam soon becomes a friend and confidant to Kumar. Kumar is overjoyed thinking that maybe he will get a chance to prove his mettle as a successful actor. But Shyam has other plans in mind.

Dhappa Hindi play

Speaking about the play and his casting, Issar said in a statement, “It is an utmost delight working with Akshay Mishra and Aum Theatre Mumbai. My role in Dhappa is something that I have never explored but have always yearned for. I remember asking Akshay why he thought of me for the role as I have always played opposite characters. I always wanted to play a soft-spoken character but never got the opportunity. This young team is very close to me and they are my people. I am excited for everyone to see Dhappa and believe me this magnificent play is here to stay!”

As part of this performance, Issar will also be seen giving a monologue titled Patthar Ke Pankh, which was written decades ago by his father Mr Suresh Issar, a noted director and producer.

On how the play came into being, Mishra said, “These two years, I resorted to re-watching some old movies and I was still mesmerized. Movies from the 1950s and 60s are never a one-time watch. The dances, music, costumes, and sets were so endearing. One always looks up to these veterans who have worked tirelessly and given us such invaluable gems. We are forever indebted to their work which gives us a glimpse of a beautiful era gone by. I wanted to recreate some of that time through a play. And Dhappa was born!”

He added, “But it was not an easy feat. I researched a lot on the types of thumris that were played during that era and endeavored to write thumris that resonated with my audience. I was inspired by the thumris sung by Shamshad Begum, Begum Akhtar, Siddheshwari Devi, and many more and tried to recreate a little sprinkle of that golden era that these maestros ruled in. I can’t wait for the audience to hear these beautiful pieces of music.”

Mishra has also written the lyrics for the play, including the thumris. He is famous for his experimental play Nangi Aawazein, based on a short story by Saadat Hasan Manto.

The play will feature live singing from singers, Radha Srivastava, Amit Ranjan Srivastava and Ajit Kumar Srivastava.

Dhappa will be premiered on 18 June at Bandra’s St. Andrews Auditorium at 7 pm.

Filed Under: Plays Tagged With: Dhappa Aum Theatre, Dhappa Hindi natak, Dhappa Hindi play, Dhappa play, Dhappa Puneet Issar, Dhappa Puneet Issar play

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